All The Love You Need

*Cheesy Game-Show Music*

It's time for another edition of, "Drrty Joe Is a Big Ol' Music Nerd."

I'm not sure how I feel about Big Head Todd & The Monsters' latest effort, All The Love You Need.

After hearing their previous three albums, Crimes of Passion, Riviera, and Beautiful World, the newest seems to lack a significant amount of effort in the production department comparatively.

Unless you count the title track, and possibly the last track.

The rest of it sounds like "that really good demo we made" back in 1991. You know, like all the rest of the Bluesy Jam Bands sounded then; bands like Toad The Wet Sprocket. The drums are way down in the mix with no effects. The vocals are dead center in the mix with no effects. Generally, everything sounds very "monaural" and flat. Even if fun effects on guitars are used, they sound very forced and out of place compared to the rest of the band sound.

Oh, did I mention they weren't on a major label and self-produced the album?

Did I also mention they secured a distribution deal with Crocs shoe company and basically gave this album away free in the mail before Christmas?

Maybe they wanted to revert back to an older sound. I dunno. But it bugs me how such a talented band can be so limited by the studio.

Perhaps they should've procured a sponsorship deal to help pay for a better studio and a big-name producer.

Or, maybe I'm misjudging the album and the songs aren't all strong enough to shine through a weak recording process.

Thanks for your patience while I figure out the reason the album doesn't click with me.

Tune in next time for another edition of "Drrty Joe Is A Big Ol' Music Nerd."